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TRIP JOURNALS AND PHOTOS
A little Ethiopian girl is responsible for gathering the family's water
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It is primarily the responsibility of girls to acquire it.
It requires an often dangerous walk of one to two hours.
It is rarely clean.
Water.
I will never again take it for granted.
More importantly, I will never again underestimate the impact a group of individuals can have on the lives of others. Where only a year ago nothing existed, now there are two school buildings, a garden, a latrine, a playground, and yes, water. Two wells and a row of faucets so the children can wash their hands.
What, you may ask, does this have to do with Women's Empowerment? It's brilliantly simple. The girls have to get water. The water's at the school. The girls are going to school now.
Make no mistake. Save the Children is not giving handouts; these communities are participating in their own growth. They help construct the schools, pay for the instructors, and plant the gardens. They form committees which oversee the maintenance of the wells. With Save's help, they are empowering themselves with the tools to thrive: education, food, water, health, pride.
Impressive as it was, this school was only the beginning of our introduction to the ways women and young girls can be assisted in Ethiopia and Uganda.
In both countries, women living with HIV/AIDS have tremendous challenges finding economic sustainability to provide for their children. We encountered one group of woman whose resourcefulness led them to rent a space to give sewing lessons, grow mushrooms, and make memory books for the children they'll leave behind. Nonetheless, most of the women we encountered seemed at a loss for what to do. Economic opportunities do not exist for them, and without programs to guide them in entrepreneurship, these women will continue to struggle.
During the time the delegation spent together, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas with women who are trying desperately to forge a secure place for themselves within their communities. We were greeted with honesty, candor, eagerness. Through our visits, we saw that as mothers, as daughters, as community leaders, these women need greater education, health care, HIV/AIDS awareness, and economic opportunity. They are not weak or powerless. They are spirited and courageous women seeking opportunity. And our delegation is determined to do what we can to give them just that - a chance.
So many of our friends and family member have already risen to help us meet our goal. It is our hope that the information we provide will encourage you to join us in our efforts.
-Women's Delegation Member
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